Reel-winding apparatus



Jan 2l, 1964 A. w. NELSON ErAL 3,118,627

REEL-WINDING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Feb. 28, 1962 Jam 21, 1964A. w. NELSON Erm.

REEL-WINDING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 28, 1962 Jan- 21,1954 A. w. NELsoN ETAL 3,113,527

REEL-mmm APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 28, 1962 United StatesPatent O 3,118,627 REELWEQDENG APPARATUS Alden W. Nelson, West Mystic,and Gilbert E. Sisson,

Mystic, Conn., assignors to rCi'ornpton 31 Knowles Corporation, Mystic,Conn., a corporation of Massachusetts Filed Feb. 28, 1952, Ser. No.176,252 S Claims. (Cl. 242-) This invention relates to reel-windingapparatus in general, and to `apparatus for winding cable stock on reelsin particular.

The present invention is concerned with a paratus for winding cablestock as it is delivered from a power capstan Jfollowing its passthrough an extruder and vulcanizer in which its insulation `coat isapplied and cured, respectively. Cable stock in general, and cable stockof the heavier and less tleiible sizes in particular, require not onlyreels of the lar er sizes but also winding apparatus of rugged and morebulky construction. Also While ranly close control over thevariable-speed drive of a reel is essential for winding cable stock ofthe smaller sizes under tension of the required uniformity as lit isdelivered to the winding apparatus at a controlled, and usually uniform,rate, particularly close control over the reel drive to the same end isindicated for cable sto-cl(` of the larger sizes and for larger reels onwhich the cable windings are usually or" more pronounced eccentricityelative to the winding axis. Uniform tension ot the cable stock beingwound is Ifurther important Where the same is of a type havingmulti-conductors of diiierent metals, such as submarine cable, forinstance, which has to be electrica ly tested from time to time,wherefore cable stock of such type is, furthermore, wound customarily inan air-conditioned space.

lt is an object of the present invention to provide reelwindingapparatus of this type which is eflicient and reliable in itsperformance and meets the aforementioned requirements of ruggedconstruction and close control over the variable-speed reel drive, yetis of simple and low-cost construction and ot minimum bull.

lt is yanother object of the present invention to provide reel-windingappmatus oi' this type in which the cable stock is wound on a reel inord rly side-by-side windings and suruposed winding layers by altraversing stock guide over which the stoel` is led to the reel and bywhich it is deliected from a straight path to the reel transverse to thereel axis, with the stock guide being `further movable, transvewe to itsreel traversing direction, in opposite directions in which stoel;deflection from said straight path is increased and decreased,respectively, and being also urged in stoel: deflection increasingdirection with a yielding force lto impart to the stool; its requiredwind-on tension. rillus, the additional stocktensioning function of thestock guide enhances simple and low-cost construction of the apparatusin any event, and also makes the stock guide available for the controlof :the variable-speed drive. is a further object of the presentinvention to provide reel-winding `apparatus of this type with a controlfor the variable-speed reel drive which responds in simple to motion or"the stock guide in the aforerner oued stock-deflection increasing anddecreasing directions by accelerating and decelerating the reel drive,respectively, with the stock guide being yieldingly urged instociedeliection increasing direction with a substantially uniform torcethroughout a range within which the reel drive -is controlled for fullywinding a reel with stock under substantially uniform tension. With thisarrangement, the lreel drive is controlled by the stock tension which,being substantially uniform throughout a Winding operation, comeels thereel drive to respond in quick and exceedingly accurate corrective speedvariation to ICC any and all causes which change the uniform stoclitension at any rime and even quite slightly, so that a reel Iwill bedriven at a speed which so decreases with increasing wound stock, `andeven luctuates on each traverse of the stock guide and with eccentricstock wind-on, that the stock will be held under substantially uniformtension despite `its delivery to the guide and reel at theaforementioned controlled, usually uniform, rate.

Another object of the present invention is to provide reel-Windingapparatus of this type in which che stock guide is, at least for thelarger sizes of cable stock, preferably and advantageously in the formof a rotary sheave in the grooved rim or" which the stock is receivedand which is of suiliciently large diameter that the stock will in readyiiexure conform to it on its passage thereover, whereby only anegligible part of the :reel driving power is required for the stockpassage over the guide and the stock is subjected to only negligiblebending stresses and will not be marred in any Way from friction causes.

A further object ci the present invention is to provide reel-windingapparatus of this type in which the stock guide is, tor its reel drive`conti-loll'mg motion in the aforementioned stock-dellection increasingand decreasing directions simply and conveniently pivotally mounted,with *die stock guide vbeing to tins end carried by a pivoted arm suohthat its radius arm is sufficiently large to conilne its displacementabout the pivot axis, for the entire range of speed variations of thereel drive during a winding operation, to a relatively small angleWithin which the aforementioned yieldin" 1Sorce on the stock guide maybe kept substantially uniformi by the simple expediency of operativelyconnecting the stock guide with the linearly displaceable plunger of amounted cylinder which for :its urgency of the plunger in all positionstherein with the required uniform `force is under the control of awellknown pressure-regulatable bleedentype valve.

lt is another object of the present invention to provide reel-win Angapparatus oi this type in which the aforeltioned guide-carrying arm isreceived on a poweroperated traverse spindle not only threadedly for thetraverse metns of the guide, but also pivotally ffor the reel-drive conolling angular displacements of the guide, thereby further enhancing thestructural simplicity of the apparatus.

lt is another object of the present invention to provide reel-windingapparatus of this type in which the guide-carrying arm is not onlythreadedly received and pivoted on a power-operated traverse spindle,but is also movable on `and turnable with a longitudinally immovabletracl; which extends in `spaced parallel relation with the raversespindle and is pivoted about the spindle axis, and the aforementionedyielding force to which the guide is subjected is exerted on this trackand transmitted by the same to the guide, thus permitting theaforementioned use of a mounted cylinder and plunger therein forproducing this yielding force.

lt is a further object of the present invention to provide reel-windingapparatus of this type in which the stock guide and reel support arearranged to permit cable stock to pass from an associated pay-outstation or capstan directly to the guide underneath a reel being woundand over the stock guide to the reel, thereby not only achieving lowconstruction oi the apparatus for installation Vin a space of relativelylow ceiling, with the reel support being the topmost rstructure of theapparatus, but also permitting installation ot the apparatus in fairlyclose proximity to the associated pay-out station or capstan, limitedonly by the requirement that rthe stock leads from this station orcapstan and onto the guide without undue flexure in yall momentarytraverse positions of the guide.

Another object of the present invention is to provide enlace? 3reel-winding apparatus of this type which is adapted for pitinstallation by having a frame on which the operating parts and devicesare carried such that a supported reel and the stock guide projectbeneath the frame base on the tioor into a pit therein, thereby stillfurther reducing the height of the apparatus above iioor level.

Other objects and advantages will appear to those skilled in the artfrom the following, considered in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings.

In the accompanying drawings, in which certain modes of carrying out thepresent invention are shown for illustrative purposes:

FIGS. l and 2 are front and side views, respectively, of reel-windingapparatus embodying the present invention;

FiG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary view, partly in section, of part ofthe apparatus as seen in the direction of arrow 3 in FIG. 2;

PEG. 4 is a section taken on the line 4 4 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view, partly in side elevation and partly insection, of installed reel-winding apparatus embodying the presentinvention in a modified manner.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. l to 3thereof, the reference numeral l0 designates reel-winding apparatushaving a main frame '12 which carries a reel support A, a reel drive B,a stock guide C, and guide operating means D. The main frame l2comprises, in the present instance, two opposite sections 14 and i6 eachof which has a base 18 and a standard thereon.

Reel Support A The reel support comprises opposite forward pintles 22and 24 on rotary shafts 26 and ZS in bearings 3i? and 32 on a plate 34and slide 36, respectively, with the pintles 22 `and 24 projecting intocentral `apertures 38 and 40 in the end anges f of a reel R for itsrotary support about a winding axis x. Bearing plate Se is suitablymounted on a platform 42 on the frame section 14, while the bearingslide 36 is guided for movement in the direction of the winding axis xin a way in a platform 44 on the other frame section 16. To support anempty reel in winding position, the bearing slide 35 is retracted to theleft from the projected position in FIG. l, the reel is next raised by ahoist chain, for instance, and its rim apertures 38 and 4t) are alignedwith the pintles 22 and 24, whereupon the bearing slide 36 is projectedforwardly until the reel rests on both pintles, For moving the bearingslide 36 in this fashion, the same is connected at 46 with the plunger43 of a double-acting cylinder 5@ which `at 52 is pivotally mounted onlthe frane section 16. The cylinder 5t? is under the control of asuitable valve (not shown) which on different manipulation vents eitherend of the cylinder and admits iluid under pressure into the oppositeend.

Reel Drive B The drive into a supported reel is by lway of a couplingpin 54 on an arm 56 on the driven shaft 26, with the pin 54 beingreceived in an aperture in the adjacent reel flange f. As shown in FIG.2, the shaft 26 is driven from a motor 56 through intermediation of achange-speed mechanism 58, speed reducer o@ and reduction gears 62 and64. The motor 56, change-speed mechanism 5S and speed reducer 60 aresuitably mounted on the frame section 14, with the motor being connectedby a belt drive 66 with the input shaft of the change-speed mechanism 5Sthe output shaft of which is connected by a belt drive 63 with the inputshaft 67 of the speed reducer 6i?. The output shaft 69 of the speedreducer `6@ is by a chain drive 70 connected with a suitably journalledshaft 72 which carries fthe gear 62 that is in permanent mesh with thegear 6s on the pintle shaftro. Thus, the reel drive from the motor 56 tothe pintle shaft 26 has, in the presi ent example, two reduction stages,one in the speed reducer 69 and the other in the gears 62 and 64, ofwhich both reduction stages are of fixed ratios, while the overall drivebeyond the motor 56 may be stepped up or down by the change-speedmechanism 58.

Stock Guide C The stock guide 75 is adapted -to lead supply stock s ontoa driven reel in orderly side-by-side fwindings w and superposed windinglayers l, and is to this end operated in opposite reel-traversingdirections. The stock guide 7S is, in the present instance, preferablyand advantageously a rotary sheave over Ithe grooved rim 76 of which thestock is led to the reel. The guide sheave is at 78 rotatably carried byan `arm `Si? which is threadedly received by a traverse `spindle S2(FIGS. l and 3) that extends parallel to the winding axis x and isjournalled in bearing brackets 84 on side plates 86 on the oppositeframe sections i4 and 16. The spindle S2 is, for the reel traversingmotions of the guide 7S with its arm 8i?, driven in opposite directionsin a manner described hereinafter.

In accordance with an important aspect of the present invention, theguide 75 is also used to impart to the stock s tension of the requireduniformity and magnitude for its winding on a driven reel. To this end,the guide 75 is so arranged that it not only deflects the supply stockfrom its straight path to a driven reel transverse to the winding axisx, but is in addition to its reel traversing movements in the directionof the axis x also movable transverse to this axis in oppositedirections in which stock deiiection from this straight path isincreased and decreased, respectively, wtih the guide 75 beingyieldingly urged with a predetermined `force in stock-deflectionincreasing direction. `In the present instance, the guide 75 is movablein opposite directions transverse to the winding axis by being with itsarm Si) free to pivot on the traverse spindle 82. Further, in order toapply to the guide '75 in any and all positions of its operationalmovements in the direction of and transverse to the axis .r theaforementioned yielding force conveniently from a fixed source, in thisinstance from the fluid-pressure urged plunger 33 of a mounted cylinder9o on the frame section 16 (FIGS. 1 to 3), this yielding force istransmitted to the guide through intermediation of a track 9E whichextends in spaced parallel relation with the traverse spindle 82 and isswingable about the axis x of the latter, with the guide 7S being withits arm Sil movable on and swingable with this track and the latterhaving an arm 9e for operational connection with the plunger 33,. To theend of being movable on the track 9'2 as AWell as swingable therewith,the guide arm Si), which in this instance is formed by spaced angles 96attached to and depending from a head plate 98, carries in back of thisplate two spaced pairs of track rollers litt@ and lil-2 of exemplaryV-shaped peripheries of which the rollers of each pair straddle thetrack 92 (FIGS. 3 and 4). The track 92 is in this instance formed byV-shaped rails we on the side anges we of a U-channel M58 to theopposite ends of which are suitably secured mounting plates Htl to whichswing brackets llare bolted at M2. Secured at t lr6 to the swingbrackets lie are housings M8 'for antifriction bearings l2@ the innerraces of which are tight on sleeves ldwhich are pressiitted in thespaced side plates S6 and afin on the respective frame sections 114':-and 16 (FiG. 3). The traverse spindle 82 passes with its ends throughthe sleeves E24 which are coaxial with the spindie. The track 92. isthus immovable in the direction of the spindle axis x but is Vfreelyswingable about this axis, while the guide 75 is with its arm movable onthe track E2 in the direction of the spindle axis x and, hence, also inthe direction of the winding axis x, and is also swingable with thetrack 92 in opposite directions transverse, and in this instance normal,to the axes .r and x. The arm 94, which at 123 is pivotally connectedwith the plunger 3S of the cylinder 9h (FIGS. 2 and 3), is in enlace?this instance bolted at 13% to one ol the mountinv plates il@ of thetrack (FiG. 4), while the cylinder )il is pivoted at 131 to the `framesection 16 (FIG. 2). For its aforementioned threaded connection with thetraverse spindle 82, the guide arm 8@ has bolted at lSE to its headplate 93 a bracket T134; which is threadedly received by the spindle 82(FIGS. 3 and 4), with the spindle passing in this instance throughclearance apertures l in the spaced angles 96 of the arm t?.

In order that the stock guide 75 may del'lect the stoel( from itsshortest, i.e., straight, path to a supported reel, and in its movementsin opposite irectons transverse to the winding axis x increase anddecrease the stoclt detlection from this straight path, as mentionedabove, the stock s is delivered to the apparatus so that its straightpath from apay-out station to a supported reel is in any eventtransverse to the win-ding axis x. 'Ehe this end, the supply stock s isdelivered to the apparatus from a payout station, usually a pwer-operated capstan (not shown), in front or haelt, and in thisinstance in back, of 90 a supported reel and midway between the endilanges or the reel, so that the straight path of the delivered stock tothe supported reel would be a indicated by the dotand-dash line p inFIG. 2, considering that the exemplary drive direction of the reel forstock `irl-on is anticlocli wise (FIG. 2). The stock guide 75 is, asusual, located in front of a supported reel and is, in this instance, atsuch low elevation above the tloor F that the stock, when led over theguide, is by the latter deflected from the straight path p into a pathunderneath the reel, with the stoel; passing from the guide in thisinstance to the bottom of the reel for its winding thereon on theexemplary reel drive in anticiocltwise direction (PEG. 2). l, "1e stoel;s thus dellected by the guide 75 from the straight path p in theexemplary manner shown in 2, the guide will increase and decrease thestock deflection from the path p on its swinging movements about thespindle axis x in clockwise and anticlocltwise directions, respectively,with the guide 75 being by the plung 88 urged in cloclzwise orSteeb-deflection increasing direction to tension the stoel: as it iswound on the reel.

Guide Operating Ileaus D trio 2), conneced .ff n utout shafts drive uniti5@ of which the drive E55.- connected with th ously described speedreducer rthe speed reducer mit and the drive unit are suitably thetrarne section rthe exemplary drive or the traverse spindle 82 thusoriginates at the motor 51S at w cli the reel drive also originates,with the drive unit leu acting to reverse the drive of the spindleeverytime the stoel; guide reaches either end of its reel traversingregion. To the end of reversing-- the spindle drive on these occv thereare associated with the drive unit 3135i) two switches l and l5@ whichby pillars le@ are mounted on top of the side plates 36, :3126 on theopposite sections ist and le, respectively, and i fe yieldinglydepressibie operating plnngers 52 and in the path of ears 166 and l,respectively, on the guide arrn The drive unit 15%, which may be similarto that fully disclosed in the patent to Nelson, No. 2,913,791, datedNovember 17, i959, forms no part of the present and, hence, requires nodetailed descr' ion her understand the function of the drive unit l5merely be explained that the output shatts l thereof are driven from theinput shaft i512 in ourosite directions on closure of associatedmagnetic cli. (not shown) which are controlled by the limit switches 75156 and 158. Thus, when the stock guide 75 reaches the right end of itsreel-traversing rnotion as viewed in FIG. l, the ear 155 on its arm Slidepresses the plunger M2 of the switch 156 which causes reversal of thedrive or the traverse spindle 82 for the succeeding motion of the guidein reel traversin-g direction to the left, at the end of which the ear16S on the arm il() depresses the plunger 164 of the other switch 158and causes renewed reversal of the spindle drive for the next reeltraversing motion of the guide to the right. The guide is thuscontrolled in its reel traversing motions until a reel is fully woundwith stock.

With the stock s being delivered to a driven reel at a controlled, andin this instance uniform, rate, it stands to reason that with increasingdiameter of wound stock on a driven reel the reel drive will have toundergo compensatory downward speed adjustment in order to maintain thestoel: being wound under the required uniform tension. ln accordancewith another important aspeet of the present invention, the stock guide75 assumes such control over the reel drive, and in this instance overthe motor 56 which is of variable-speed type. To this end, the rnotor55, and with it the reel drive and also the spindle drive, will beaccelerated and decelerate on movement of the stock guide 75 instock-delection increasing and decreasing directions, respectively,which in the present instance is swinging movement of the guide aboutthe spindle axis x' in clockwise and anticlockwise directions,respectively (FlG. 2). This is achieved, in the present example, by a17@ on one of the swing brackets sie of the track 92 which through afollower arm M2 shifts a magnetic core 1.74 in a reactor coil i176 onswinging movements of the stool: guide 75 in opposite directions. Thefollower arrn E72 is at E78 pivoted on a bracket 1S@ on the framesection i4, and is by a spring l?. urged against the cam 176. T hereactor coil 176 is enclosed in a housing which is mounted on a bracket136 on the traine section lil. The speed of the motor 56 is in thisinstance regulated by regulating the current supplied to its iield lh(FiG. 3). To this end, the field current from a line source L isregulated by a grid-controlled rectifier tube i9@ the grid bias voltageof which is changed by a conventional phase-shift network 192 which isphase-sensitive to a change in the inductance output voltage of thereactor coil 176 as caused by linear displacement of the magnetic coreE74 therein, with the grid bias voltage controlling the current input tothe rnotor field E38. The arrangement is such that swinging movement ofthe stock guide 75 in clockwise and anticlockwise directions (PEG. 2)will cause acceleration and deceleration, respectively, of the motor 55and, hence, of the reel drive and also spindle drive, as alreadymentioned, and the range oi swinging movement of the stock guide andcorresponding range of speed variations of the motor 56 and remainder ofthe reel drive are fully adequate to permit fully windreels of sizesadapted for the apparatus at substantially uniform Stochr tension. Thereare preferably provided suitable limit stops tor denning the rangewithin which the stock guide 75 may swing, with the ends of this rangedetermined in this instance by the opposite end positions of the plunger83 in the cylinder 90.

ll/ode 0f Operation Assuming d'iat an ernpty reel has just beensupported in the apparatus and stock s led over the guide '75 anduitably anchored to the reel near the end flange thereoC adiacent towhich the guide reposes, the circuit or" the motor 56 will be closed ata switch lh, for example, to render the reel and spindle drivesoperative. With the stock guide 75 being then in its exemplary foremostdotand-dash line position in FlG. 2 which corresponds to the maximumspeed of the reel drive, the motor 56 will come up to speed as the loadpermits and initially wind stock on the reel periphery 198 (FIG. 2). Inthus coming up to speed, the reel drive will shortly overdrive the reeland wind stock thereon at a rate in excess of its uniform delivery rateto the guide 75, thereby immediately compelling the guide to yieldrearwardly and cause deceleration of the reel drive until stock is woundon the reel at its uniform delivery rate to the guide. As the guide 75finishes its lirst reel traverse and at the start of its next reeltraverse winds stock on the increased wind-on diameter of the iirststock layer on the reel, the reel drive again overdrives the reel butthe stock guide will be enforced further rearward yielding cause quickcompensatory deceleration of the reel drive until the reel is driven atthe proper speed for wind-on of the stock at its uniform delivery rateto the guide. The stock guide thus yields backwards in incremental stepswith the winding of additional stock layers on the reel, assuming theexemplary full-line positions in FlG. 2 on winding stock on the reel tothe extent there shown, and when the reel is fully wound reaching aposition intermediate its full-line and dotted-line positions in FIG. 2,with the dotted-line position ofY the stock guide corresponding in thisinstance to zero speed of the reel drive. When the reel is fully wound,the apparatus is stopped, the wound stock is severed from the supplystock, and the full reel is replaced by an empty reel, whereupon thesame winding operation is repeated. In thus winding a reel, the guide'7S will even cause such incremental speed adjustments of the reel driveas are required by the varying stock length from the pay-out station tothe guide during each reel traverse of the latter and by eccentricity ofany stock layers on the drum, in order to Wind the stock at its uniformdelivery rate to the guide onto a reel until the same is fully wound.The guide 75 thus controls the reel drive with exceeding accuracy forwinding reels with stoel: under uniform tension throughout. To this end,the radius arm about the spindle axis x' of the stock guide of theexemplary sheave or any other type is advantageously relatively long sothat the angular range of operational displacement of the guide for areel winding operation is kept as small as possible in order that theguide may throughout this range be urged in clockwise direction with aforce which is substantially uniform on exertion on the track 92 by thelinearly moving plunger $8 in the mounted cylinder 9% of its force whichis quite uniform in all plunger positions. To the end of keeping theforce of the plunger 8S uniform in all of its positions in the cylinder9G, the latter is under the control of a well-known pressure-regulatablebleeder-type valve (not shown).

The exemplary apparatus shown is suited particularly well for windingcable or other stock of the heavier and less flexible sizes on reels ofaccordinUly large sizes. To this end, the exemplary rotary sheave formof the stock guide 75 is particularly advantageous, for the sheave mayhave any large diameter to which even the most unwieldy stock willreadily flex with no more than harmless bending stresses, and it Willreadily turn with the stock on its passage thereover and, hence, subjectthe passing stock either to friction nor to any possible abrasion.Further advantageous to the same end is the arrangement of thesheave-type stock guide at a relatively low elevation above the floorwhich permits stock delivery from a pay-out station in the rear of thesupported reel beneath the latter to the guide in front thereof, therebypermitting installation of the apparatus in optimum space-savingproximity to the payout station at which the stock span therefrom to theguide is sufficiently long to avoid excessive iiexing or" the stock inall reel traverse positions of the guide, as Well as permitting lowconstruction of the apparatus in which only the size of a supported reeldetermines the minimum ceiling of a space in which the apparatus may beinstalled. Low construction of the apparatus is particularlyadvantageous for winding cable stock with multiconductors of dissimilarmetals, and hence different coefi'icients of expansion, such assubmarine cable, for instance,

which reouires electrical testing from time to timel under uniformtension, wherefore it is customary to wind such stoel: in spaces whichare kept efciently air-conditioned under low ceilings. To enhance theuse of apparatus of the present type for winding heavy cable stoel: ingeneral, and submarine cable stock in an air-conditioned atmosphere inparticular, in a space with a low ceiling, recourse may be had to themodified apparatus Mia of FIG. 5 which may in all respects be like thedescribed apparatus i@ of lJiGS. l to 4, except that the presentapparatus is constructed for pit installation. To this end, the framesections of the present apparatus lack the bases 13 of the apparatus it)(FiGS. l and 2) and are mounted with their standards directly on thefloor F', with the stock guide a and a supported reel Ra of adapted sizeprojecting into a pit 2d@ in the iioor.

Winding apparatus or the present type is, of course, by no means limitedto the winding of stock of the heavier and less flexible sizes, for suchapparatus may with the same advantages be used for winding lighter andquite iiexible stock. Among these general advantages are the arrangementof the stock guide so that it performs th plural functions ofdistributing the stock onto a reel and also uniformly tensioning thestock as well as controlling the reel drive with the utmost accuracy,which additionally makes for exceeding structural simplicity and alsolow cost of the apparatus. Also, the range of speed variations of thereel drive under the control of the stock guide is uite adequate to meetthe varying requirements for winding in the same apparatus stock ofrelatively widely Varying sizes or delivery rates, or both. Further, thestock guide, whether of rotary sheave form or any other form, may forits reel-drive controlling motions be swingable or linearly movable, andmay be arranged to deiiect the supply stock from any convenient ordesired straight path to a supported reel. Also, in case the stock guideis arranged to swing for its reel-drive controlling motions, itsreel-traverse movement on and swinging motion with the pivoted traclr isquite advantageous, for this track may be made quite sturdy and willtake up the entire load of the guide and stock thereon as well as allforces exerted by the stock on the guide, wherefore the traverse spindleis relieved of this burden and may be cross-sectionally dimensioned forthe sole purpose of longitudinally moving the guide and stock loadthereon on the track. 0f course, the pivoted track for the guide isfurther advantageous in that it transmits to the guide the Operationalyielding force from a fixed source.

The invention may be carried out in other specic ways than those hereinset forth without departing from the spirit and essentialcharacteristics of the invention, and the present embodiments are,therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and notrestrictive, and yall changes coming within the meaning and equivalencyrange or" the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed is:

l. in reel-winding apparatus with a winding axis, the combination with arotary reel support about said axis, and a variable-speed reel drive forwinding supply stock of controlled delivery rate onto a driven reel, ofa stock guide over which supply stock is led onto a driven reel and bywhich it is deliected from a straight path to the reel transverse tosaid axis; a track extending parallel to said winding axis and pivotedabout an axis parallel of said winding axis, said guide being movable onsaid track for reel traversing movement in the direction of said windingand being also swingable with said track for movement transverse to saidwinding axis in irst and second opposite directions in which stockdeliection from said straight path is increased and decreased,respectively; means for moving said guide for reel traverse; controlmeans operative on movement or" said guide in said first and seconddirections to accelerate and decelerate said reel drive, respectively;and means acting on said track rvs yieldingly to urge said guide in saidfirst direction with a substantially uniform force throughout a rangeWithin which the reel drive is controlled for fully Winding a reel withstock under substantially uniform tension.

2. The combination in reel-Winding apparatus as set forth in claim l,which further comprises a power-driven threaded spindle extendingparallel to said Winding axis over the traverse region of said guide,and sai track being pivoted at its ends beyond said traverse region,with said guide being threadedly received on said spindle for its reeltraversing movement.

3. The combination in reel-winding apparatus as set forth in claim l, inwhich said control means include an instrumentality with an operatingelement shiftable in opposite directions, a cam on said track, andfollower means connected with said element and actuated by said cam toshift said element in opposite directions on swinging movement of saidguide in opposite directions, respectively.

4. In reel-Winding apparatus with a Winding axis, the combination with arotary reel support about said axis, and a variable-speed drive forwinding stock of controlled delivery rate onto a driven reel, of arotary guide sheave over which stock is led onto a driven reel and bywhich it is deiected from a straight path to the reel transverse to saidaxis; a track extending parallel to said Winding axis and pivoted aboutan axis parallel to said Winding axis; an arm with one end movable onand swingable With said track, said sheave being carried at the otherend of said arm with its rotary axis extending parallel to said windingaxis, and being movable and swingable with said arm for reel traversingmovement in the direction of said winding axis and for movementtransverse to said Winding axis in iirst and second opposite directionsin which stock detiection from said straight path is increased anddecreased, respectively; means for moving said arm for sheave reeltraverse; control means operative on movei -ent of said sheave in saidrst and second directions to accelerate and decelerate said reel drive,respectively; and means acting on said track yieldingly to urge saidsheave in said iirst direction with a substantially uniform forcethroughout a range Within which the reel drive is controlled for fullyWinding a reel with a stock under substantially uniform tension.

5. The combination in reel-winding apparatus as set forth in claim 4,which further comprises a powerriven spindie extending parallel to saidwinding axis over the traverse region or said sheave, and said trackbeing pivoted at its ends beyond said traverse region, with said armbeing at said one end thereof also threadedly received on said spindlefor the sheave reel traverse movement, and said sheave being carried atthe other end of said arm.

Doescher June 1'1, 1940 Delano Dec. 22, 1942

1. IN REEL-WINDING APPARATUS WITH A WINDING AXIS, THE COMBINATION WITH AROTARY REEL SUPPORT ABOUT SAID AXIS, AND A VARIABLE-SPEED REEL DRIVE FORWINDING SUPPLY STOCK OF CONTROLLED DELIVERY RATE ONTO A DRIVEN REEL, OFA STOCK GUIDE OVER WHICH SUPPLY STOCK IS LED ONTO A DRIVEN REEL AND BYWHICH IT IS DEFLECTED FROM A STRAIGHT PATH TO THE REEL TRANSVERSE TOSAID AXIS; A TRACK EXTENDING PARALLEL TO SAID WINDING AXIS AND PIVOTEDABOUT AN AXIS PARALLEL OF SAID WINDING AXIS, SAID GUIDE BEING MOVABLE ONSAID TRACK FOR REEL TRAVERSING MOVEMENT IN THE DIRECTION OF SAID WINDINGAXIS AND BEING ALSO SWINGABLE WITH SAID TRACK FOR MOVEMENT TRANSVERSE TOSAID WINDING AXIS IN FIRST AND SECOND OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS IN WHICH STOCKDEFLECTION FROM SAID STRAIGHT PATH IS INCREASED AND DECREASED,RESPECTIVELY; MEANS FOR MOVING SAID GUIDE FOR REEL TRAVERSE; CONTROLMEANS OPERATIVE ON MOVEMENT OF SAID GUIDE IN SAID FIRST AND SECONDDIRECTIONS TO ACCELERATE AND DECELERATE SAID REEL DRIVE, RESPECTIVELY;AND MEANS ACTING ON SAID TRACK YIELDINGLY TO URGE SAID GUIDE IN SAIDFIRST DIRECTION WITH